Connection box for electrical terminals



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CONNECTION BOX FOR ELECTRICAL vTERMIN/XL1S Original Filed Feb.- 23, 1942lNvEN-rons:

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Patented Aug. 28, 1945 CONNECTION Box FoaELEorRIc-AL' TERMINALS nuuiph1'. sehonitzer, shaker Heights, and Edwin L. Allen and Harold B. Muster,Cleveland Heights, Ohio; said Allen and Muster assignors to saidSchonitzer @riginal application February 23, 1942, Serial No.

432,007, now Patent. No. 2,359,054, dated September 26, 1944.

Divided and this application December 30, 1943, Serial No. 516,142

2 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a novel and improved connection boxassembly for use in eleotric power distribution. to an assembly of thisnature for housing terminals whereby a plurality of subordinate powercircuits are tapped 01T from a main circuit.

The object of the invention is to provide an outlet or connection boxture-tight and weatherproof, but which can be constructed more rapidlyand cheaply, and from lighter weight material, than4 outlet boxes nowavailable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box assembly of thenature indicated which is characterized by improved mechanicalproperties as a result of the structural features to be describedhereinbelow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection box assemblysuch that improved accessibility to the electric fittings is provided ascompared with boxes of this general type previously available.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from a description ofone embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying draw'-ing, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View, partially broken away, of aconnection box assembly embodying the inventive features now to bedescribed.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partially broken away as in Fig. 1,of said connection box assembly.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, but with the baseremoved.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, but with the cover`member and base removed.

Before the present invention is described in detail it is to beunderstood that such invention is not limited to the details ofconstructionand/or the specific arrangement of parts herein illustratedand/or described, as the invention obviously may take other forms. Italso is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology hereinemployed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

It particularly relatesassembly which is moising operation but obviouslyany type of sheet metal of adequate physical properties may be Theoutlet or connection box assembly here illustrated and representing oneembodiment of the present invention comprises three main components,identiable as a cover II, a box body I2, and a base I3. These membersare preferably formed from a deep-drawing type of low carbon, lowmanganese sheet steel by a pressing or stamp.-

l number of subordinate circuits.

used provided it is ductile enough to withstand the amount ofdeformation required by the structural design.

As seen in Fig. 1. the body boxI 2, as here illustrated, has anoctagonal contour in horizontal section, being bounded by two end wallsI 4, two side walls I5, four fiattened corner walls I6 anda bottom I'I.The upper rim is outturned. and crimped downwardly to form a topperipheral bead I8.

Each corner wall I6 carries, adjacent its upper edge, a bracket I9having a web 20 which is welded or otherwise attached to such wall I6,two triangular wings 2l, and a top horizontal ange 22, which flange issubstantially coplanar with the top edge of the box body. Flange 22supports a clinch nut 24 having a threaded bore 25 for a purpose whichwill hereinafter appear.

Extending longitudinally on the interior of box body I2 is a bridgemember 26 which is conveniently formed from a metal stamping having atits mid section a slightly channeled contour comprising an upper planarportion 21 and downturned, lateral anges 28. Near their ends theseflanges 28 are enlarged to form angular supporting wings 29 which, attheir terminal extremities are bent outwardly to form ears ,30 which'maybe conveniently welded or otherwise attached to end walls I4.

A strip or plate of electrically nonconducting material 3| is attachedto the upper planarl portion of bridge 26, and carries, near one endthereof, two connections 3.2 and 33 to which supply line terminals maybe attached. In parallel therewith is a double row of subordinate taps34' and 35, connected respectively to terminals 32 and 33, and adaptedto be used as leads for an appropriate Both the supply line inlets, andthe distribution outlets are effected by the insertion of suitableconduits (not shown) through suitable apertures 36 in one or more of thebox walls, the number and location of such apertures (two of which areindicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3) being determined by convenience ornecessity as a precaution against moisture, a conventional packing glandis inserted in each wall aperture around the conduit or conduitsextending therethrough.

The cover I l will now lbe described. It is a dished metal stampingcomplementary to, and corresponding in contour with, the box fbody I2already described. Along its lower peripheral edge it has a step portion31, extending outwardly and downwardly to generally encompass the upperperipheral edge of the box body I2 when the cover is in closed position.A stamped metal lband 38 is inserted within, and in circumierentialcontact with the depending wall portion 38 of cover I I (Fig. 2), beingattached to the cover by welding or otherwise.

The lower edge 40 of said band 38 extends below the plane of thehorizontal component of step 31 and, as shown in Fig. 2, this lower edgemay be crimped over to form a, portion of double thickness and provide aseating shoulder 4I for positioning the band 38. The peripheral channelformed by cooperation of step 31 and the lower edge 40 of band 38retains therein a resilient packing member or gasket 42 which'engagesthe upper edge i8 of the tbox body I2 when the cover II is applied tothe box body.

The cover Il is provided along its lower peripheral edge with fourgenerally triangular extensions 43 formed by modifying the stepportion`31 at theselocations. As seen in Fig. 1, these extensions 43 arelocated above the corner walls I6 of the box body,and consequently abovethe brackets I9 when the cover is applied to the box. Extensions 43,which in reality constitute connector tabsy are provided with apertures44 (Fig. 4) which are in registry with the threaded' bores 25 in theclinch nuts 24 carried by brackets I9. Suitable threaded studs 45 may beinserted downwardly through apertures 44 into lbores 25 whereby thecover II may be drawn into secured relationship with the box :body I2,the fitted relationship :between the parts being such that theperipheral edge i8 vof the box body engages the gasket 42 -in airtightcontact when the studs are drawn down.

The top of cover II is provided with a depression 4E, here shown asbeing of elongated, rectangular contour, thereby providing a seaty for ametal tapping strip 41 which may be conveniently welded in -saiddepression. Said strip 41 is provided rwith a plurality of threadedbores 48. A name plate or escutcheon 49 may be attached to the cover bystuds which pass through 'the name plate and seat in said threadedbores.

By this means perforation of the cover itself 1s avoided.

The ibase member I3, likewise formed rfrom sheet metal has a centrallydisposed concavity 50 which conforms in contour to the bottom'of the boxbody which is seated therein, and which is formed by stamping, in theIbase member 13, ridge 5I of which portions abut the side walls I5 andend walls I4 of the box body. Opposite the corners i6 of the box theridge 5I trends downwardly in height, and the base member swervesoutwardly to provide corner projections or ears 52 which are perforated,as at 53, to receive attaching studs (not shown) whereby the base membermay be attached to bulkhead's, walls, ceilings, or the like. Inpreferred form the base member concavity 5S fits the bottom portion ofbox body I2 and the box body may be retained in the seat thusl provided,by spot welding or otherwise securing the complementary parts in fixedrelationship.

The'assembly, constructed as described, may be fabricated and assembledlboth rapidly and economically, using only a. minimum amount of metal. Anumber of factors contribute to supply adequate structural properties,including the reinforced edge I8, the beaded insert lband or `collar`38, the bridge26, the stepped edge 31 of the cover, and the ridgeconstruction 5i on the base member, all of which features cooperate toaord a strength and rigidity which is more than adequate. The enclosureis sufficiently weathertight to protect the various electrical terminalsand taps against corrosion, and is therefore particularly suitable wherecorrosive atmospheres may be encountered, for instance on ships, ininstallations near the-ocean, or under familiar industrial con'ditions.

The vpresent application is a division of our copending application forConnection boxes for electrical terminals, iiled February 23, 1942, Se-

,rial No. 432,007, now Patent No. 2,359,054,

granted September 26, 1944.

What we claim is:

1. A base structure for a box structure wherein said box structure has abottom wall and a continuous or endless upstanding wall at the periph--ery of such bottom wall, said base structure comprising a sheet metalmember having a generally at central portion and a continuous or endlessupstanding ridge at .the periphery of such central portion, said ridgebeing of inverted U form in cross section and cooperating with saidcentral portion in providing `a seating cavity or nest for the boxstructure, peripherally spaced sections of said ridge being in conningengagement with the opstanding wall of the box structure and theintervening` peripherally spaced ridge sections being outwardly spacedfrom said upstanding wall of the box structure, the outwardly spacedintervening ridge sections dening therewithin areas of said centralportion which project outwardly beyond thel box structure, at least oneof said outwardly projecting areas being provided with means for use insecuring the base structure to a support.

2. A ibase structure for` a box structure whereinthe box structure has abottom wall and a continuous or endless opstanding wall at the peripheryof such bottom wall and wherein said upstanding peripheral wallcomprises side wall portions, and wall portions and angular corner wallportions, said :base structure comprising a sheet metal member having a,generally flat central portion and a continuous or endlessupstandingridge at the periphery of said central portion, said ridgebeing of inverted U form in cross section and cooperating with saidcentral portion in providing a seating cavity or nest for the boxstructura-sections of said ridge being in confining engagement with theside wall portions of the box structure and other sections of the ridgebeing in confining engagement with the end wall portions of said boxstructure, said ridge having other sections which are. spaced outwardlyfrom the angular corner wall Vportions of the box structure vand saidoutwardly spacedridge sections defining therewithin areas of saidcentral portion which project outwardly beyond the box structure, atleast one of said outwardly projecting areas being provided with meansfor use in securing the ibase structurev to a support.

RUDOLPH I. sCHoNrrzER.. EDWIN L. ALLEN. HAROLD e. MUsTER.

